GOSHEN, Ind. and MARION, Ind. — It would have been hard for the two Goshen College tennis matches this weekend to be more different. In the win-loss column, the result was the same. But a day after suffering a 9-0 loss at Indiana Wesleyan, the Maple Leafs took NCAA Division II opponent St. Joseph's down to the wire before dropping a 5-4 decision at home.
Saturday afternoon in Marion, the host Wildcats did not drop a set, and allowed the Maple Leafs to win as many as three games in a set twice. Lynnia Noel was involved in both matches, teaming with Abby Banning at no. 2 doubles (8-3) and playing alone at no. 4 singles (6-0, 6-3).
"There's not much to add after a match like that," said Goshen head coach Doug Gossman. "Indiana Wesleyan has a history of success precisely because they win the matches they're supposed to win."
Sunday afternoon in Goshen, Gossman's team started out ahead: with the St. Joseph's team consisting of only five players, the Pumas defaulted at no. 6 singles and no. 3 doubles. Noel and Joelle Friesen easily added another point at no. 2 doubles, picking up an early break en route to an 8-2 win.
The Maple Leafs looked ready to sweep the doubles points, with Noemi Salvador and Kendra Lozano up a break and serving for the match leading 7-6. But the Pumas broke their serve to tie the score; after the top St. Joseph's duo held serve for an 8-7 lead, Salvador and Lozano served again to stay in the match before ultimately falling 9-7.
"Lynnia and Joelle were absolutely dominant at no. 2," Gossman said. "It was disappointing that the match at no. 1 ended the way it did, but it still left us ahead after the doubles matches."
Goshen won its first singles point by the aforementioned default for a 3-1 team lead. But among the matches that were played, the Pumas won the first three off the court (nos. 3, 4 and 5), and all in straight sets. With Salvador trailing 5-0 in her first set, St. Joseph's felt good about its chances in the team match. That optimism was short-lived, as Salvador won five straight games to level the set, then two more to win it, then six of the seven to claim the second set and level the team match.
That left one match on the court, at no. 2 singles: Lozano led 4-3 in the first set, but dropped a service game to lose 6-4. In the second set, a 5-4 lead allowed her to serve to force a third set, but another break foreshadowed a 7-5 loss that sealed the team result.
"For the match to end like that is always frustrating," Gossman said. "But ultimately it's what we take away from that match that makes a difference as we get back into conference play."
The Maple Leafs (0-3, 0-2 Crossroads League) play their next three matches on the road, beginning with a Tuesday sojourn to Marian University. First serve is set for 4 p.m. EDT.
Complete Results: Indiana Wesleyan 9, Goshen 0
Singles:
1. Rachel Bottorff (IW) def. Noemi Salvador 6-0, 6-1
2. Alex Mella (IW) def. Kendra Lozano 6-1, 6-0
3. Courtney Siepman (IW) def. Joelle Friesen 6-0, 6-0
4. Gabby D'Aniello (IW) def. Lynnia Noel 6-0, 6-3
5. Courtney Clark (IW) def. Chloe Woodward 6-1, 6-0
6. Morgan Smith (IW) def. Abby Banning 6-0, 6-1
Doubles:
1. Bottorff/Mella (IW) def. Salvador/Lozano 8-0
2. Siepman/Smith (IW) def. Friesen/Woodward 8-0
3. Felker/Estren (IW) def. Banning/Noel 8-3
Complete Results: St. Joseph's 5, Goshen 4
Singles:
1. Noemi Salvador (G) def. Tate Hickey 7-5, 6-1
2. Clare Kost (SJ) def. Kendra Lozano 6-4, 7-5
3. Vanessa Olson (SJ) def. Joelle Friesen 6-4, 6-2
4. Mary Huffine (SJ) def. Chloe Woodward 6-0, 6-1
5. Lauren Jakubczyk (SJ) def. Abby Banning 6-2, 6-2
6. Lynnia Noel (G) won by default
Doubles:
1. Hickey/Kost (SJ) def. Salvador/Lozano 9-7
2. Friesen/Noel (G) def. Olson/Jakubczyk 8-2
3. Woodward/Banning (G) won by default
